In Uzbekistan, plans are underway to abandon state price regulation on coal, following a Cabinet of Ministers resolution on raising tariffs for electricity and gas. Currently, coal sold under direct contracts to the population, budget organizations, and thermal power plants is considered a socially important commodity with its price regulated by the state.
Wholesale and retail prices for coal are reviewed and approved by the Interdepartmental Commission on Tariffs under the Cabinet of Ministers at least once a year (before June 1). Retail prices refer to the price of coal products approved by the interdepartmental commission and sold to the population through the coal depots of the company "Kumir taminot."
The Ministry of Energy, in collaboration with other agencies, has been tasked with submitting proposals within a month for setting wholesale and retail prices "based on market principles." In 2023, coal production in the country exceeded the previous year's figure by 15.5%, reaching 6.19 million tons. Additionally, coal, coke, and briquette imports increased to $204.4 million (+67.8%).
Coal supplies from Kazakhstan increased by 1.4 million tons to 3.1 million tons (+82.3%). Coal imports from Kyrgyzstan for the first 10 months of last year doubled, reaching almost 900,000 tons.
